Join Carry the Torch 2025
You are invited to Volunteer Ministry Center’s 17th Annual Carry the Torch Fundraising Luncheon on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at The Knoxville Convention Center. Will you join us in carrying the torch for our unhoused neighbors?
Carry the torch is an annual fundraiser developed to support the mission of volunteer ministry center. This signature annual event boasts 800-1000 attendees and raises funds towards preventing and ending homelessness in Knoxville. Funds are raised to support the mission of VMC through sponsorships, ticket purchases, and donations.
About VMC
Our Mission
is to prevent and end homelessness through compassion, accountability and results.
Volunteer Ministry Center (VMC) is a nonprofit, located in the heart of Knoxville, TN, working to prevent and end homelessness. VMC was established in 1987 and offers specialized services to individuals experiencing homelessness and households struggling to sustain housing.
With over 9,000 individuals in Knoxville accessing homeless services each year, there are many who are at risk. Homelessness impacts all of us, and there is both an economic and human cost to our community.
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A focus on housing reduces this economic and human cost.
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It allows those experiencing homelessness the safety, stability, and security to heal and address the deeper issues that may have led to their homelessness.
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VMC provides services through: The Bush Family Refuge, Dental Clinic, Street Outreach, Resource Center, Rapid Re-Housing, Minvilla Manor, and Caswell Manor. Using high-quality case management and the housing first approach, VMC assists neighbors into permanent housing and provides the coordination of resources needed to prevent homelessness.
Featured Speaker
We are excited to announce that our 2025 featured speaker is powerful mental health advocate, Olympic Gold Medalist, WNBA Hall of Famer, and beloved former Lady Volunteer,
Chamique Holdsclaw. Chamique will share an inspiring message of hope, healing, and resilience through mental health struggles. Sponsors have an exclusive opportunity to meet Chamique at a special VIP reception by sponsoring at the Flame level and above . You don’t want to miss out!
Photo Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics
The Event
Your participation in this event will support VMC’s life-changing programs. Volunteer Ministry Center (VMC) is a nonprofit working to prevent and end homelessness in Knoxville and Knox County. VMC uses a Housing First Approach. Neighbors (Clients) are paired with case managers to support them on their journey to achieving housing and to help them maintain housing. Through other resources such as the Dental Clinic, The Bush Family Refuge, and The Resource Center, VMC provides dental care, meals, clothing, job resources, and guidance for the unhoused and low income citizens of our community.
Mission Fair Opens at 10 a.m.
Keynote Speaker & Luncheon 11:45 a.m.
Book Signing Begins 1:00 p.m.​
Wednesday, Dec 10 | Knoxville Convention Center
Honorary Chair
Joan Cronan
2025 Honorary Chair
Athletic Director Emeritus
University of Tennessee
Keynote Speaker
Chamique Holdsclaw
2025 Keynote Speaker
Mental health advocate
Olympic Gold Medalist
WNBA Hall of Famer
Former Lady Volunteer
Mission Fair
More than a dozen of our neighboring community organizations will be present at this year's event. They will be available to discuss their missions and answer questions from guests. If you would like to join the line up for the 2025 Mission Fair, click below for more info.
Join us in building awareness of homelessness in Knoxville and of the agencies providing services to those experiencing homelessness or struggling to sustain their housing.
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EVENT DETAILS
Reserve Your Seat
Reserve Seats for Carry the Torch 2025
Your Reservation Includes:
Mission Fair 10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Luncheon and Program 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Book Signing 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Donate to This Event
Can't Join Us? Support the event now.
Your support will be an important step in helping us reach our goal of providing housing and resources for our unhoused and low-income neighbors.
Our Sponsors
Thank you to each of our SPONSORS
who have joined us so far for our highly-anticipated annual event. These individuals and organizations have chosen to join us on the journey to provide housing and services for our clients/neighbors.
Torchbearer
The Boyd Foundation
Spark
Ann Furrow
Anne Sprouse
Bill & Betty Coley
Charlie & Patsy Daniel
David & Jeane Claire Jones
David Arning
Ellen Kuendig
George & Stephanie Piper
John & Kathy Buckingham
John & Laura Seymour
Karen Sproles & Liz Rea
KCDC
Kramer Rayson Attorneys
Lawson Family Foundation
Lexus/Toyota of Knoxville
Mark & Cathy Mamantov
Mark & Laura Walker
Nancy Bowen
Rick & Becky Jenkins
Sherri Parker Lee
Bill & Jenny Eversole
Positively Living/Choice Health Network
Central Baptist Church Bearden
Central United Methodist Church
Episcopal Diocese of East TN
FE Trainer Construction, Inc
First Presbyterian Church
Fountain City Presbyterian Church
Hall Retirement Planning Services
Helen Ross McNabb Foundation
Image Matters
SmartBank
Immaculate Conception Church
MaMack2 Strategy
Miller Disability Law
Old Gray Cemetery
River Valley Health Systems
Second Presbyterian Church
St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church
St. John XXIII University Parish
St. John's Cathedral
St. John's Lutheran Church
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Ragan Schriver & Jeff Vomund
Flame
Emily & David Cox
Herb & Mary Berl
Judy Hodge
Ken & Jane Creed
Lane Hays
Nancy & Charles Maland
Neill Albers & John Townsend
Randy & Robin Gibson
Susan & Pye Conway
Tom McCarley & Denise Moretz
Rouse Construction
Clerk to Knox County Criminal Court Clerk
Connie Steele in Memory of Kennett Hobbs
Axiome Advisory Group
Bo & Beth Townsend
Church of the Good Samaritan
Denark Construction
Dominion Group
Frank & Sheila White
Knox County Criminal Court
MBI Companies
Pinnacle Financial
Realty Trust Group
Nancy & Jim Friedrich
UT Medical Center
Lantern
Anonymous
John & Judi Nelson
John M. Smartt, Jr, CPA,
LHP Capital
Peter Keese
Registered Investment Advisor Representative
Robert and Carney Ivy
Rodney and Dell Lawler Fund
Stellar Vision & Sound
Beacon
Clayton Homes
Ann & Steve Bailey
Mission Fair Sponsor
Home Federal Bank
Book Signing Sponsor
Axiome Advisory group
Supporting Partners
The Balloon Garden
Merit Construction
VIP Magazine
Cynthia Moxley, Moxley-Carmichael
Susan Espiritu, Knox TN Today
JoYo Creative
The Crowne Plaza Knoxville
Chariots of Hire
By the Tracks Catering
Image Matters
Interested in Sponsoring?
Simply email us with the level of sponsorship you are interested in, and we will send you an invoice with a convenient payment link to get you registered quickly and conveniently!
Testimonials
"I wanted to tell you again how thankful I am. You guys don’t know how much you helped me and took a load off my shoulders. I’m so blessed and your organization is a blessing itself."
L. McNair
"To have a group of folks who do what VMC does is literally priceless. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for saving me and my life. I will always be here to say and do whatever I can to support VMC and the Knoxville community. VMC is a priceless asset and we are beyond lucky to have such a thing here in Knoxville Tennessee. Thank you VMC..."
J. Johnson
"I can't express my gratitude enough. I have had a really tough couple years. I'm in a new city and state and homeless for over 1 year. Because I don't have local id, I hadn't been able to find any help getting off the street and into a safe environment... until now...I feel like I'm finally working with a group that cares. Awesome, amazing staff. Very thankful to have this organization in my corner."
P. Hunter